WACO, Texas – The excitement was palpable on Wednesday evening as Mississippi State’s No. 1 doubles team advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Individual Championships. Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez, ranked first in the nation, faced a tough challenge against California’s 13th-ranked duo, Alex Chang and Michael Wright. After a hard-fought first set that went 4-6 in favor of California, Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez regrouped and dominated the second set, winning 6-2 to push the match into a decisive third set.
In a set that kept everyone on the edge of their seats, the two Bulldogs showcased their resilience and skill, emerging victorious in a super tiebreaker with a score of 1-0. This remarkable win marked their third ranked victory of the fall season and their 15th overall as an All-American doubles pair. Their strong performance leaves them ready to tackle a formidable opponent next. On Thursday, they will face Princeton’s dynamic pairing of Filippos Astreinidis and Paul Inchauspe, who are ranked fourth nationally. The time for this high-stakes clash is yet to be announced, but the stakes couldn’t be higher, as the winners will earn All-American status.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mississippi State on the doubles front. Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano also competed in the Round of 32 earlier in the day but faced an uphill battle. They started slow against Indiana’s 52nd-ranked team of Jip van Assendelft and Facundo Yunis, losing the first set 1-6. Although they fought back to win the second set 6-4, Baroni and Martinez Serrano fell just short in another super tiebreaker, losing 0-1. This defeat concluded their fall campaign, but the success of Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez brings hope for the remainder of the tournament.
